Digital information system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a digital information system for displaying information on at least one display means with the aid of at least one television set or camera. The exposures are presented at places accessible to and frequented by a general public. The information system includes external information mediators and information is controlled dynamically through the medium of a communication interface and through the medium of an exposure handler in a central computer. The inventive system also includes a communication interface against an elective number of cinema computers having connected television or camera computers which control television sets or cameras for displaying pictures or exposures. The cinema computers and peripheral equipment are situated at mutually distanced places.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 08/676,517, filed on Jul. 2, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,534, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and to an arrangement forcontrolling and coordinating television sets, with peripheral equipment,or cameras, with peripheral equipment, in a digital information systemfor displaying information on at least one display device through themedium of at least one television set or camera for each said device,said information being displayed in places such as cinemas, privatehomes, onboard air-crafts, onboard trains, onboard ships, main railwaystations, subway stations, airport waiting lounges etc, and generallyevery were advertisements, films, movies and other information isdisplayed through the medium of television sets or cameras.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Systems that are used to show information in the form of advertisements,timetable messages or arrival and departure times in present-day publicservice infrastructures with regard to buses, trains, subway traffic,etc., is of a static nature. Such information is given on notice boards,posters, charts, tables, verbally through loudspeakers, and on digitaldisplays, etc. A characteristic feature of such information media isthat the information media is not coordinated, but is in the form ofindividual items which are controlled and updated separately, oftenmanually.

Modern digital displays used, e.g., in conjunction with subway railwaytraffic gives some of the aforesaid information but is not controlled todisplay advertisements, warning messages, etc. Furthermore, theinformation is often supplemented with verbal messages transmitted fromtraffic control centers. The information channel cannot be subscribed todirectly for the display of external information suppliers, such asadvertising bureaux, the authorities, newspapers, etc., but is processedadministratively and fed manually into the information display systems.

Although the administration of information is often processed manuallywith the aid of modern computer technology, the available display timewill nevertheless contain “dead time”, among other things due toback-logging caused by the manual infeed process.

Thus, present-day systems do not enable information to be updateddynamically for display in real time. Neither do present-day systemsenable external mediators to update information for display in a centralcontrol system, nor yet the administrator who makes the display ofinformation available, but that it is the administrator who determineswhen, where and how the information shall be displayed.

The present-day static information display systems are therefore besetwith a number of problems.

Also known to the art are systems for displaying or showing pictureseries in local public places, such as assembly halls, lecture halls,and conference rooms in industry. The systems comprise diapositivetelevision set or cameras which are controlled to display pictures,images and sound in an attractive manner, often with rapid picturechanges and overlaps, so as to avoid the risk of boring viewers, as withconventional display with diapositive television set or cameras. Thecomputer control of such systems may well be both complicated andadvanced.

Unfortunately, these systems are nevertheless static insofar as they areused in one and the same locality and controlled and managed on thedisplay site. The display must be planned carefully beforehand, thisplanning often being carried out by experts within the technical fieldin question, so as to obtain a finished display product. For instance,when a company wishes to change its display and introduce a new pictureseries combined with sound, the process again becomes static by virtueof the need to employ experts to program and arrange the new display.

The same problem as that mentioned above is also met when showingpictures through diapositive television set or cameras in one and thesame locality, because the display subscriber has very little chance ofinfluencing the display, especially in real time. The picture display isdirected towards a limited public and towards scheduled display of oneand the same information material to the public concerned. The picturedisplay is not directed to a large number of people, as in the case of arailway station platform, a subway platform or in airports. In places ofthis nature, it should be possible to spread the information and todisplay different information in different places within said stationsand it should be possible to update and change the information quickly.When the information displayed on said stations is not effectivelycoordinated, the displays on which information is presented will oftenbecome static, for instance show the time of the next display or show apause picture, i.e. dead time. This becomes nerve-wracking to travelers,who often wait for long periods in waiting halls or stand on platforms.Neither is the failure to utilize expensive information displayequipment to the highest possible degree compatible with good economy.

Further, It is a known problem when new films or movies are to bereleased at different locations such as cinemas that there are piratecopies made when the movies or films are distributed to the locationswhere they are going to be displayed to the public.

Still further, the advertisement sent at cinemas during the projectionof a film is static, i.e. not instantly changeable.

Also, for advertisement on television the same drawbacks as for othersystems are valid e.g. concerning changing of advertisement spots.

Yet further, the new standards for digital television will in a nearfuture revolutionary television viewers demands on available services,such as pay per view, video on demand, interactive viewing etc, not tosay what would be the case if it is combined with satellite transmissionor cable carried broadband transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a flexible system in whichexternal information mediators are able to dynamically control in realtime the transmission of display instructions to a larger public indifferent places situated at any chosen distance apart throughtelevision sets or cameras which project information onto displaysintended herefor.

An achievement of the invention is to allow video on demand and pay perview on television sets and other medium intended for display ofinformation.

Another achievement is to make it possible to distribute, for example,movie films to cinema locations from a remote central place.

Yet another achievement of the invention is to enable pictures, images,messages and announcements to be configured in accordance with moderndigital technology, therewith providing rapid communication.

A further achievement of the invention is to enable a picture, image orother information to be changed in practice as often as is desired, inreal time, therewith providing direct and immediate communication, andto enable similar or specific information to be displayed in places thatare mutually far apart and to enable message information to bealternated with advertising spots, for instance.

A still further achievement in part of the invention is to assign everytelevision set and camera an address. In one embodiment a networkaddress such as an Internet TCP/IP address.

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a method ofcoordinating and controlling television sets or cameras in a digitalinformation system for exposing information on at least one displaydevice through the medium of at least one television set or camera.

Said method comprising the following steps:

generating an exposure list comprising control instructions forcoordinating and controlling television sets or cameras with regard towhat shall be exposed, when it shall be exposed, where it shall beexposed and for how long it shall be exposed;

using a control center for coordinating and controlling television setsor cameras, wherein the control center is able to create and update saidexposure list in real time with control instruction fields via dynamicbooking of information in time for exposure from mediators; and

wherein the exposure list enables each television set or camera to becontrolled, independently of other television sets or cameras, toreceive the same or different information in accordance with theexposure list for exposure of respective television set or camerathrough the computerized devices.

Information mediators are, in one embodiment of the present invention,connected to a computerized control center via interfaces for data andtelecommunication for round-the clock transmission of information. Thecontrol center has communication interfaces against computerizeddevices, situated at specific places remote from the control center, forcoordinating and controlling television sets or cameras. A controlcenter is able to create and update an exposure list in real time withcontrol instruction fields via dynamic booking of information in timefor exposure from mediators having drive routine means. Said driveroutine means may be transparent for transmission of information withthe drive routine means of the control center for transmission ofinformation in the system via interfaces. The exposure list with controlinstructions coordinates and controls the television set or camera withregard to what shall be exposed, when it shall be exposed, where itshall be exposed and for how long it shall be exposed. Also it enableseach television set or camera to be controlled, independently of othertelevision sets or cameras, to receive the same or different informationin accordance with the exposure list for exposure of respectivetelevision set or camera through the computerized devices.

In one embodiment, the system administrator is able to update theexposure list with elective information at any time whatsoever, whereinthe dynamic booking can be changed or delayed.

In another embodiment a server situated at said specific place andincluded in a computerized device includes databases; and in thatinformation in the databases relating to exposures in the exposure listis copied in databases of servers in a selected number of computerizeddevices situated at some other place.

A further embodiment comprises that the exposure list includes reservedinstruction fields for updating control instructions via mediatorinterfaces.

A still further embodiment includes that the control instructions areplaced in a queue, or line, when the exposure list temporarily lacksinstruction updating fields.

In yet another embodiment a switch senses when one of said servers isout of function, wherein the television set or cameras controlled bysaid server are controlled by another server situated at some otherplace.

Also, a further embodiment ensures that every television set or camerais assigned an unique address, whereby the addresses can be of the typeTCP/IP. Addresses to television set or cameras, in one embodiment,respectively, are stored on a smart card which can be read bycomputerised means via in these comprised smart card readers.

-   -   The present invention also relates to an arrangement of        apparatus for carrying out the aforesaid method, said apparatus        including the aforesaid devices and an exposure handler which        creates the exposure list. More specifically an arrangement for        coordinating and controlling television sets or cameras in a        digital information system for displaying information on at        least one display device through the medium of at least one        television set or camera, said information being supplied by        mediators of information, for exposure or display.    -   It comprises:

computerized control center means, wherein the control center hascommunication interfaces against;

computerized means for coordinating and controlling television sets orcameras;

exposure handler means whereby the control center functions, in realtime and through the medium of said exposure handler, to create andupdate an exposure list having control instruction fields, via dynamicbooking of display information from mediators; and

wherein said exposure list, containing control instructions, coordinatesand controls the television sets or cameras in question with respect towhat shall be exposed, where it shall be exposed, when it shall beexposed, and for how long it shall be exposed, and enables eachtelevision set or camera, independently of other television sets orcameras, to receive the same or different information according to theexposure list for exposure, or display, by respective television set orcamera through the computerized devices.

Mediators of information for exposure or display are connected to acomputerized control center via interfaces for data andtelecommunication for transmitting the information at any elected timewhatsoever, wherein the control center has communication interfacesagainst computerized devices for coordinating and controlling televisionsets or cameras. The control center functions, in real time and throughthe medium of said exposure handler, to create and update an exposurelist having control instruction fields via dynamic booking of displayinformation from mediators having drive routine means. Said driveroutine means possibly being transparent for transmission of informationwith the drive routine means of the control center for transmission ofinformation in the system via interfaces. An exposure list containingcontrol instructions coordinates and controls the television sets orcameras in question with respect to what shall be exposed, where itshall be exposed, when it shall be exposed, and for how long it shall beexposed. This enables that each television set or camera, independentlyof other television sets or cameras, to receive the same or differentinformation according to the exposure list for exposure, or display, byrespective television set or camera through the computerized devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description makes reference to the text in theaccompanying drawing to provide a better understanding of theembodiments of the present invention, said drawing illustratingschematically a system for coordinating and controlling television setsor cameras in a digital information system for displaying information inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the dynamic coordinationand control of television sets or cameras, with possible peripheralequipment, in a digital information system for displaying information onat least one display device via at least one television set or camerafor each display device, wherein the information is displayed in placesthat are accessible to and frequented by a general public. The inventionalso relates to an arrangement of apparatus for carrying out the method.

It is to be understood that the television set or camera itself cancomprise a digital display device or be incorporated in a digitaldisplay device such as an LCD display, PDP display (Plasma DisplayPanel), a digital television set etc.

Although implementation of embodiments are limited in the following toprivate homes or cinema locations, it will be understood that theinvention is not restricted to these embodiments. As before mentioned,the inventive system can be used in places where large sections of thepublic are known to visit or look at advertisement, looking attelevision, looking at movies etc., such as railway stations, subwaystations, airports, outdoor locations, onboard aircrafts, onboardtrains, onboard ships, airport waiting lounges etc, in addition tocinemas and private homes, and generally every were advertisements,films, movies and other information is displayed through the medium oftelevision sets or cameras.

It should be appreciated that the word camera generally relates to anykind of apparatus able to project images on displays.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying single drawing, which illustratesschematically a system 10 for coordinating and controlling televisionsets or cameras in a digital information system for displayinginformation on display devices, such as free-standing picture screens,wall-mounted screens, walls, and overhead screens or other meanssuitable for reproducing or exposing picture information in the form oftext, stills, movable pictures, images, etc.

In the main, the system is comprised of a control center 12 having acommunication interface 14 which connects an unlimited number ofcomputerized devices 16, 18, 20 which are placed at desired distancesfrom one another for the control of television sets 40 or cameras 22.

The illustrated system also includes an information mediator which isconnected to the control center 12 through the medium of a computer 24and a modem 26. Although only one modem is shown connected to thecentral computer 28 of the control center, it will be understood thatmodem poles, telephone switching centers and other similar devices maybe used to this end in accordance with present-day techniques. Also, theconnection between the system 10 or control center 12 and informationmediators is arbitrary by wire or wireless, preferably cable orientedand possibly a broadband network.

As an example of a preferred embodiment, a system 10 could beadministrated by almost any company or by a major broadcasting companyfor movies or television. Alternatively, the information mediators couldbe broadcasting companies and the administrator of the system 10 anindependent distributor of media. In accordance, the computerizeddevices or station sites 16, 18, 20 are e.g. cable television delivers,satellite television distributors, locations where movies are displayedetc.

The central computer 28 in the control center 12 also includes databases30, in the illustrated case two databases. The databases 30 may beexternally connected to the central computer. The control center alsoincludes working stations 32, which are preferably connected to thecentral computer 28 via a Local Area Network (LAN) in accordance withknown techniques. The working stations 32 are used by the personnelserving the control center 12, in monitoring, checking, maintaining andupdating functions in the central computer with its databases. Thecontrol center administrator is able to insert television set or cameracontrol instructions via the working stations, for instance wheninformation is directed specifically to travelers and passengerstravelling by ship, train, subway, aircraft or some other vehiculartraffic who require specific information. The information may concernthe arrival times and departure times of passenger-carrying vehicles.The administrator controls internally how, what, when or where theinformation shall be displayed by the television sets or cameras 22. Animportant feature in this context, however, is that external informationmediators 24 are able to give control instructions to the televisionsets or cameras 22 with regard to the information that the externalmediators 24 desire the system 10 to display via the television set orcameras 22, each on its own initiative and communication-wisetransparent via modems 26. This can be achieved in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention without involving the working stations 32 inthe procedure of transmitting the control instructions to the centralcomputer 28.

The term information mediator 24 used in the following shall beinterpreted in its widest meaning, i.e. as not only referring toadvertising agencies but to all companies and private persons who wishto utilize the system 10 for commercial reasons or for the display ofinformation that concerns a general public. At present a mediator whichwishes to display information in public places is normally forced towait about two weeks, perhaps longer, before his order can beimplemented and the information publicly displayed. With the inventivedigital information system 10, the information can be displayedprincipally in real time, i.e. at the time of making the order, possiblywith a short delay due to processing, fully-booked exposure lists andother quickly passing causes. Furthermore, an external informationmediator 24 is able to put through information to the system 12twenty-four hours a day, whereupon the information can be includedinstantaneously in an exposure list, as illustrated in more detailbelow.

Those external information mediators which connect to the control center12 are, in one embodiment of the invention, connected to the controlcenter via specially designed interfaces (drive routine means) for dataand telecommunication. In this way, only external mediators 24 havingthe correct interface are able to connect transparently to the controlcenter 12 for delivering control instructions to the television sets orcameras 22, which avoids unauthorized access to the display of suchinformation and misuse of the system. In this regard, the specialinterface, which may be included in the computers of external mediators,also includes commercially available code keys or other codes sentbetween the control center 12 and the computer 24 of the externalmediator to verify the right to enter control instructions into thecentral computer 28, without the administrator needing to supply throughthe working stations 32 further information or authority permittingaccess of the external information mediators 24 to the central computerfor transmitting system transparent control instructions to thetelevision set or cameras 22.

In accordance with the invention, the control center 12 has acommunication interface 14 against the computerized devices 16, 18, 20situated on shifting positions or places for television set or cameracoordination and control.

The drawing shows specifically a radio link which forms an interfacebetween the control center 12 and the computerized devices 16, 18, 20,this interface being a preferred inter face, although not necessarilythe sole possible interface. Other interfaces for transmittinginformation between the control center 12 and the computerized devices16, 18, 20 may consist of a cable-carried ISDN solution (IntegratedServices Digital Network), satellite network, other wireless network, orother fixed lines that have the same capacity.

In one embodiment of the invention relating to a cinema or a cabletelevision distributor 1 (from now on cinema 1), the computerized device16 is comprised of a cinema computer (server) which either includes oris connected externally to a hard disk 36, wherein the cinema computer34 is connected to a plurality of television set or camera computers 38,three such television set or camera computers in the illustrated case,which transmit control information to connected television sets 40 orcameras 22, only one of which is shown. The television set or cameracomputers 38 have the form of PC units with picture screens in theillustrated case. The information sent to television sets or cameras 22can be monitored on the picture screens of the PC units 38 and edited bypersonnel stationed at different locations within a cinema 16, or from acentral location. In the illustrated embodiment, cinema 2, referenced18, and cinema 3, referenced 20, comprise other cinemas that areequipped with devices similar to the devices of the cinema 16, althoughwithout showing the television set or camera computers 38 and thetelevision set 40 or camera 22. It is assumed, however, that thesestations also include television set or camera computers 38 and at leastone television set or camera 22.

In an alternative embodiment of the device or devices 38, i.e. thetelevision set or camera computers 38, included in the cinema computer34, the television sets or cameras 22 is/are controlled directly fromthe cinema computer 34.

In yet another embodiment of the devices included in the computerizeddevices 16, 18, 20, the television set or camera 22 is replaced with anelectronic display (not shown), such as a large picture screen in LCDtechnology, PDP technology or the like. The cinema computer 34 is thenincluded in the large picture screen or is connected externally thereto.Preferably, the television set or camera computers 38 in the cinemacomputer 34 and the database 36 are also included. Information istransmitted from the control center 12 generally in the same manner asthat before described. However, each separate large picture screen maybe addressed directly through a radio network 14, wherein the screensare controlled from the control center 12 which includes redundancy.Thus, in the illustrated case, the computerized devices 16, 18, 20 forman electronic display with cinema control computer 34, said televisionset or camera 22 effecting the display.

According to one embodiment, the computerized devices 16, 18, 20 mayinclude redundancy by virtue of all databases 36 or hard disks in thecinemas 16, 18, 20 including the same television set or camera controlinformation or instructions for monitoring the system in a cinema 16,18, 20. Thus, all information is copied between the cinema computers 34and their databases 36 via the communications interface 14 from thecentral computer 28. This means that a computerized device fordisplaying information in a cinema via television sets or cameras 22will not be disabled should one or two of the cinemas shown in thedrawing suffer a computer or hard disk power down in a cinema computer34. In the event of a power down in a cinema computer 34, thecommunications interface 14 can be coupled to a switch whichautomatically bypasses the cinema computer and connects television setsor cameras 22 connected to the power down computer 34 to one of thecinema computers 34 that is still in function (the switch is not shownin the drawing).

The digital information system 10 has been described in the aforegoingwith regard to respective hardware and interfaces. Implementation of thepresent invention in achieving the objects and purposes thereof will nowbe described more specifically.

The illustrated central computer 28 is divided into three powerfulservers 1, 2, 3, of which server 1 receives material from externalinformation mediators 24, via modems 26, wire or wireless orcombinations of them. Server 2 sends information material to the cinemacomputers 34. The same material can be sent to all cinema computers 34,even though the information is to be displayed solely on a given displayor on given displays. What shall be exposed and where it shall beexposed will be explained in more detail below.

Server 3 functions to process information and control instructionsreceived from the information mediator 24, as described in more detailbelow.

The server 3 of the central computer 28 functions partly as an exposurehandler. The exposure handler 3 carries out the important object of theinvention with regard to the possibility of an external mediator 24 toorganize the information delivered to the cinema 16, 18, 20 via anexposure list, this organizing of information being effected in realtime via the modem 26 and the server 1 that receives television set orcamera control information from the external mediator.

In one embodiment of the invention, a queue, or line, is created fromthe information material received by the server 1, in accordance withsome known line or queuing method, such as FIFO (First In First Out),LIFO (Last In First Out) or Round Robin, etc., wherein the server 3 orexposure handler 3 has set-up or created an exposure list which covers atwenty-four hour period for information exposure or display viatelevision set or cameras 22. The exposure handler 3 collects andprocesses, i.e. allocates, information relating to television set orcamera control instructions, wherein mediator information is sorted intothe exposure list in accordance with the wishes of the mediator 24 orits instructions, when available space is found in the exposure list orin alternative places in the exposure list given by the mediator. If theexposure list is completely filled with instructions, the mediatorinstructions to the control center remain in the queue list in theserver 1 in readiness for later inclusion in the exposure list, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment.

In one embodiment of the invention, the exposure handler 3 creates orallocates a data message (data field) including a header, a controlcharacter field, an address field, optionally at least one CRC field(Cyclic Redundancy Code), and optionally status flags which identify andare connected to the information from an information mediator 24 andfiled in the exposure list in the time interval that the informationshall be exposed or displayed through a television set 40 or camera 22.This constitutes an alternative to the insertion of the entireinformation bit from an external mediator 24 in a specific time intervalin the exposure list, and enables the provision of an exposure list thatcontains much less information and which is thus easier to handle, andto accelerate transmission of the list between computers and databasesincluded in the system.

A data message in the exposure list can be understood here as being acontrol instruction in an instruction field for activating televisionset or cameras 22 to project information.

A data message of this kind connected to each individual informationexposure enables known HASH or switching methods to find informationincluded in the exposure time intervals in the exposure list botheffectively and quickly. A First Classy server can be used convenientlyfor communications transmission between external information mediators24 and the control center 12. Each external information mediator is thenable to send an e-mail with included information material in any chosenformat, which provides the advantage of not needing to write in any newsoftware for the communication transmission function. As beforementioned, the system also incorporates a safety aspect, whereby eachexternal information mediator that has an office or who subscribes tothe system must possess a coded drive means or a coded drive routine inorder to connect to the control center 12.

In order for external information mediators 24 to be able to delivercomplete pictures/films, the mediator will preferably have its ownversions of the software that the exposure handler 3 uses for enablingpictures/films to be introduced transparently into the exposure listwithout processing via the working stations 32 in the control center 12.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is thus included analternative to the dynamic updating of the exposure list as mentioned inthe aforegoing, i.e. the external information mediators 24 which do nothave access to software in the exposure handler are provided with thepossibility of having their picture material or exposure materialprocessed by personnel serving the working stations 32, wherein saidpersonnel enter, via the working stations 32, the information that theexternal mediator 24 wishes to have exposed, or displayed, viatelevision set or camera control instructions in the exposure handlerand via the exposure list created by the handler. Personnel at theworking stations 32 are thus able to interrupt any queue lists in theserver 1 to update the exposure list, via the exposure handler, withinformation generated centrally from the control center 12 or withinformation that is insufficiently processed when received by the server1 from the external information mediator 24.

In accordance with the aforegoing, external information mediators 24that have access to the exposure program are able to deliver completepicture series/films which can be processed automatically and insertedinto the exposure list, or optionally personnel administering theworking stations 32 are able to pick external mediator information fromthe queues, or lines, and process this information so that it can beinserted into the exposure list via the exposure handler 3. In order tobe able to distinguish information that must be processed via theworking stations, external mediators 24 can mark or label suchtransmitted material with an appropriate code, so that the centralcomputer 28 is able to identify this material and send it to workingstations 32 for processing. Alternatively, e-mail is processed andregistered as information which must be processed.

Pictures are transmitted to displays or to exposure means digitally viaa specially designed computer program.

All television sets or cameras 22 are able to show individual picturesor a collective picture via all television sets or cameras 22simultaneously.

When the information mediator 24 is an advertising agency and theadvertisements are to be displayed are in picture form, the advertisingsubscriber is able to buy a number of spots which are shown in theexposure list. The spots are shown, e.g., for a ten-second period,where, e.g., each sixth spot is a spot used by the operator of thecinema, wherein this spot can be used partly for advertising purposesand partly for information purposes. The advertising subscriber may buyspots individually or in a special package, and the digital informationsystem is able to insert a change at short notice or to operate acompletely new spot. The system is thus highly flexible and enablesquick changes to be made with regard to what shall be exposed on theexposure means, where it shall be exposed and when.

Computer-produced pictures or exposures are delivered by externaladvertising agencies/newspaper agencies, etc., for exposure, or showing,in subways for instance. The pictures are received by a control center12, which includes information material storage media. The controlcenter also decides what shall be exposed and in which order, anddistributes the information material to the cinema 16, 18, 20. Thecontrol center 12 is also able to refrain from displaying informationwhich conflicts with “good order” or accepted morale and of a disturbingnature to the large majority of the public, possibly through the mediumof working stations 32 and via control routines. The display of suchinformation can also be prevented through the medium of the contractssigned by external information mediators 24 when obtaining an account ora subscription.

The exposures are received on respective cinemas by a cinema computer 34(cinema server), wherein each television set or camera 22 has anindividual television set or camera computer 38 which controls and feedspictures to the television set or camera or television set or cameras22. Television set or camera computers 38 are controlled by the cinemacomputer 34. The communications interface 26 between advertisingagencies and the control center 12 is comprised of a communicationsmodem 26, modem poles, switching centers, etc. According to oneembodiment of the invention, the interface between the control center 12and the cinema 16, 18, 20 is comprised of a radio transmitter withreceiver.

Each means for exposing, or showing, information sent from thetelevision sets or cameras 22 can be individually controlled. Thecontrol center 12 sends picture packets/information to the cinemacomputer 34 together with an exposure list. The exposure list includes aseries of instructions as to what shall be shown, where it shall beshown, when it shall be shown and for how long, etc. The cinema computer34 then provides each television set or camera computer 38 with thematerial to be exposed. Thus, one and the same information material canbe shown on all screens, or certain screens can be chosen for specificinformation display. This facility is controlled via the exposure listor, when the need is acute, directly from the control center 12.

In addition to exposing pictures in different standard formats, forinstance in PICT (Picture Format), EPS (Encapsulated Post Script), TIFF(Tagged Image File Format), etc., the digital information system is alsoable to expose Quick Times film, video film and transmit sound.

In one embodiment of the invention, the resolution is 1048×680 dpi,which constitutes a standard with advertising agencies for stillpictures and picture sequences. The system is also able to display videofilm, which can now be recorded directly into a Macintosh® having aPCMCIA card (Personal Computer Memory Card International Associationcard). With regard to sound via a CD or some other source, the CDquality in stereo applies, 44 kHz. The television set or camera computer38 informs the cinema computer 34 of the television set or cameraaddress, picture number/name, exposure duration and the time of theexposure, through the medium of function control means in said cinemacomputer. In the event of a malfunction/mains failure or a power cut,the cinema computer 34 reports this occurrence to the control center 12.The central computer 28, in turn, monitors the cinema computers 34 atregular intervals.

The information material to be exposed, or shown, is down-loaded fromthe control center 12 to the cinema computers 34. Because eachtelevision set or camera 22 has its own computer 34, informationmaterial can be sent to the cinema computer 34 at any time in a calendarday without disturbing exposure on the cinema 16, 18, 20. Whennecessary, the exposure list can be changed or stopped in respect of alltelevision set or cameras 22 or in respect of certain television set orcameras for showing specifically chosen information.

The computers 34 include counters which function to register, e.g. intables or other registers, the length of time over which the informationconcerning each external information mediator 24 has been exposed, orshown. Thus, when so considered by an administrator, the mediator 24need only pay for the actual time over which the information wasdisplayed and is not required to pay a single down payment for, e.g.,round-the-clock display over a seven-day period, as is at present thecase.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the hardware is comprisedof a number of powerful servers which form a central computer 28, saidcomputer 28 and servers 1, 2, 3 essentially carrying out the followingprocedures. The server 1 receives material from the advertisingagencies, via modems, for instance and the server 1 sends informationmaterial to the cinema computers 34, wherein the same informationmaterial can be sent to all cinemas even when the information shall beshown solely on a given screen or screens. The information to bedisplayed is determined by the exposure list sent to the cinema 16, 18,20 with the exposure or picture material, which is effected via theserver 2.

The exposure material or picture material (and other information), theexposure list, etc., are prepared in the exposure handler which isincluded in the server 3 in accordance with the aforegoing.

Each server 1, 2, 3 will preferably have its own array of databases 30,for instance external hard disks with sufficient storage capacity. Allmaterial is copied therebetween. This will result in redundancy, sinceeach exposure or picture will occur in at least three copies. Copyingbetween the databases 30, 36 can be effected automatically, with eachnewly arrived or changed file containing information being copied in theremaining databases.

The information material is received by respective cinemas 16, 18, 20 ina cinema computer 34 (server). The cinema computer 34 feeds exposures orpictures to the television set or camera computers 38 in accordance withthe exposure list.

In summary, the following hardware is required in the illustratedembodiment; three central servers 1, 2, 3 plus large databases 30, forinstance three hard disks each of 27 GB. The server 1 is connected tothe information mediators via modems, wherein a First Class® server isrecommended with regard to promoting user-friendliness.

A number of working machines or working stations 32 are connected to thecentral computer 28 for controlling, communicating and processing ofexposure or picture material, generating exposure lists through theexposure handler when required, and so on. Alternatively, theinformation mediators 24 may have their own versions of the exposureprogram used, thereby enabling the mediators to deliver finished picturesequences/films transparently. These picture sequences/films need notthen be prepared in the control center 12, but can be filed dynamicallyin the exposure list by the exposure handler.

The illustrated embodiment also includes a radio system which includes atransmitter and a receiver for each cinema 16, 18, 20, wherein at leasttwo channels will preferably be made available, one channel fortransporting exposure or picture material and one channel forcommunication with the control center 12. This obviates the need ofinterrupting picture transmission from the control center 12 in order,e.g., to enter emergency messages or for entering check reports from thecinema computers 34.

The cinema computers 34 are responsible for communication with thecontrol center 12 and supply the project computers 38 with informationmaterial or exposure material and handle control routines in the cinemas16, 18, 20. The television set or camera computers 38 deliver picturesto the television set or cameras 22 and monitor the function of thetelevision set or cameras. In this case, the exposure information forthe pictures can be fed from the cinema computer 34 in packets. When apacket has been exposed, it is erased to make room for the next packet.Alternatively, there can be used a computer 34 that has sufficientcapacity to store all pictures that are to be exposed. This assumes,however, that the entire picture stock shall be fed out in sequence.

Starting from the presumption that a picture or exposure may not belarger than 10 MB and that ten percent of the material is updated daily,there would be required a communication system that can handletransmission speeds of at least 1.75 MB/minute. Although a cable-carriedsolution such as ISDN, which in a four-channel version manages twoMB/minute, or fixed lines of the same capacity as an alternative toradio transmissions, such systems are at the moment enormously expensiveto run, since the channels must be open all day round, meaning that atpresent radio transmission is a cost-effective method with regard to thecommunications interface 14.

The transmission rate of present digital information systems correspondsto 100 Mbits/s, in parity with new Ethernet® solutions. This ispreferred for the inventive solution, and a ready developed Ethernet®solution can be used on the cinemas 16, 18, 20 between the cinemacomputer 34 and the television set or camera computers 38.

One assumption in this regard is that all computers 32, 38 are able tohandle PCI Ethernet® cards (Personal Computer Interface), which is thecase with all new Power Macintosh®. 100 Mbits Ethernet® assumes idealconditions with minimum disturbing or interfering magnetic fields,optimal cables, no abrupt swings with the cables, etc. Such factorsseriously disturb and reduce the transmission rate. Despite theseobstacles, the actual brake block is the own central SCSI bus (SmallComputer System Interface) of the television set or camera computer 38to which the television set or camera 22 should be connected. Thetransmission maximum of present-day SCSI busses is about 5–7 MB/s. Thismeans that two seconds are required to move a picture or exposure of 10MB from the cinema computer 34 to the television set or camera computer22.

The fastest Macintosh® servers at present manage clock frequencies, withaccelerator cards, of about 160 MHz. This is sufficient to divide up aQuick Time® film or video film in real time, for instance. The computersalso have a built-in stereo, 44 kHz, which produces sound of CD-quality.Naturally, CD rom and Audio CD and, e.g., Kodak® photo CD can be used inthe system. On the basis that pictures or exposures have, on average, asize of 10 MB, 2500 exposures will require 25 GB storage media. Externaldisks can be used to this end, for instance. This large storage capacityis primarily only required for the control center 12. The cinemacomputer 34 may have a smaller storage capacity and is supplied withfresh material during the day. This latter is effected by virtue of thefunction control reporting to the control center 12 when a picture hasbeen shown, the nature of the picture, where the picture was shown andfor how long. The picture is then erased. When fewer picture remain, thecontrol center 12 automatically sends the next picture or exposurepacket. This method enables the television set or camera computer 22 towork effectively with a still smaller storage capacity. On the otherhand, the television set or camera 22 is equipped with a buffer memoryfor at least two pictures or exposures. When a picture or exposure hasbeen shown, the picture or exposure is scrapped and leaves room for thenext picture, this picture being sent from the cinema computer 24 duringthe time that picture number 2 is exposed. This avoids a two-seconddelay that would otherwise occur in transmission, in which case thescreen would be blank or switched off during this time period.

Present-day Power Macintosh® servers manage these requirements. However,the development of server performance is advancing at great speed, andit is therefore to be expected that servers having still betterperformances will be available within a year.

Alternative servers 1, 2, 3 are SUN® servers or an Alpha® from Digital®.Although these servers operate under UNIX® and Windows® respectively,this does not affect the users, who are able to work under MAC OS®. Afurther important resource for the future is the Apple® system Copland®which is expected to be made commercially available this year. The mostimportant advantages consist in multitasking and open transport. Forinstance, multitasking permits copying to several different servers atthe same time as another program is processed. Consequently, when theserver is sufficiently powerful, only from one to two servers isrequired in the control center 12, instead of three servers 1, 2, 3 asis now the case. Furthermore, a server is able to serve the exposuremeans, screens, cloths, wall surfaces of an entire cinema, and thetelevision set or camera computers 38 can therewith be omitted, thisbeing included in an alternative embodiment of the present invention asbefore mentioned. Open Transport permits communication via modems withseveral users connected to the same computer.

For achieving a purposeful digital information system according to thepresent invention, there is used to this end specifically developedsoftware, which will not be described in more detail here.

There are available at present programs such as Powerpoint® and similarprograms, which will not function effectively for three reasons. Theprograms are very large and load the computers unnecessarily. Theseprograms also contain a large amount of resources that are not requiredto show pictures or exposures. For instance, advertising exposure alsodiffers greatly from picture or exposure presentations of thePowerpoint® type. Powerpoint® thus lack resources that advertisingagencies may wish to use. Primarily morphing, which is usedprogressively more often in advertising programs, for instance intelevision broadcasting. Morphing is a process in which the image of oneobject is smoothly changed into that of another object, for instancehuman beings to animals and/or vice versa. It must be possible topresent the picture sequences to be shown in a manner more interestingthan solely a diapositive presentation, this being one of the objectsachieved with the invention. This touches on the border region betweenstill pictures, moving pictures and film where the methods overlap oneanother. It is also probable that external mediators 24 of picture orexposure presentations will use sound. It is therefore wiser to writespecific software which includes those resources that external mediators24 desire, i.e. cultivate software. It will also be easier to update anown developed program with own resources at a future date.

In this way, the external mediators 24 do not need to bind themselves tothe use of the Powerpoint® format. They simply deliver pictures indesired formats.

In order to achieve the inventive digital information system, it isnecessary to provide a number of drive routine means, such ascommunication drive routine means for transferring information betweenexternal mediators 24 and the control center 12, copying means forcopying to the various databases 30, 36, drive routine means forcomposing the picture or exposure material to be shown, exposurehandlers, drive routine means for a radio network, control means in thecinema computer 34 which feed pictures or exposures to the televisionset or camera computers 38 in accordance with the exposure list,function control means in the television set or camera computers 38 andin the cinema computers, and drive routine means for television set orcameras 22. Effective programs exist for copying between the differentdatabases, for instance Retrospect®.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the central computer28 comprises a relation database and/or, for example, a video server ofthe type Oracle® which is able to optimally manage pictures and films.The central computer 28 is connected 14 to network computers 34, 38which control each one television set or camera 22. Every television setor camera 22 or network computer 34, 38 has a TCP/IP addressTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and are able to beaddressed by the central computer 28 and vice versa.

TCP/IP is a transmission and Internet protocol which de facto is anetwork standard. It is commonly used in connection with X.25 andEthernet® connections and is regarded as one of few protocols whichprovide a true connection to OSI (Open Systems Interconnection).

The TCP/IP address allows addressing of unique output data such aspictures to every television set or camera 22, respectively.

With the existing Oracle® relation database the comprised accounting orstatistic software for invoicing of purchased advertising time can beused.

A relation database is a type of database system where all the data isstored together with indications of specific connections (relations)between stored information which simplifies searching, printing, sortingetc. in the database 30 or outputs from it.

The basis of the system is comprised by the relation database 30. In thedatabase 30 pictures are stored which are to be displayed or otherwiseused. A control system provides a master unit to the database 30 whichcontrols displaying of pictures to the concerned television set orcameras 30 in the network 10.

In order to be able to achieve that every object, for example,information displayed by television sets or cameras 22, that is used ispossible to address, every television set or camera is in need of anunique address, for example, a TCP/IP number. This accomplishes thatevery object can be individually addressed. Additionally, televisionsets or cameras 22 are connected to a control computer 34, 38. Here, itis possible to use, for example a network computer (NC) as controlcomputer 34.

Every NC may comprise or include a so called smart card reader. On smartcards addresses are stored to television sets or cameras 22,respectively. It is of course possible to group the addresses in orderto generate series of objects as information with or without pictures,i.e. the same information to a lot of addresses.

Further, the present invention may comprise an interface to Internet forcatching of information from Internet or storing and displaying inInternet.

It is a known problem when new films or movies are to be released atdifferent locations such as cinemas that there are pirate copies madewhen the movies or films are distributed to the locations where they aregoing to be displayed to the public. The present invention is, i.a.,used for distribution of newly released movies or films from the controlcenter 12 to, for example, cinemas 16, 18, 20 thereby reducing the riskfor pirate copying. Movies or films can be sent in a packed format fromthe control center 12 an unpacked at the cinemas 16, 18, 20, thusfurther minimizing the risk for pirate copying.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides that advertisementsent at cinemas during the projection of a movie or film is instantlychangeable with the method and the arrangement according to the abovedescription.

Hence, if a television viewer is a subscriber to use the system 10 as amediator 24, the viewer will be able to use video on demand and pay perview on television sets and other medium intended for display ofinformation. The sites 16, 18, 20 are thus for example serviced by acable television supplier and the subscriber enters the exposure listwith a time schedule for broadcasting to his television set or a demandfor a specific movie at a preferred time.

Also, for advertisement on television the same problems and drawbacks asfor other systems are valid e.g. concerning changing of advertisementspots. The present invention solves the problems concerning changing ofadvertisement spots in real time by, for example, letting the places 16,18, 20 being situated at corporations broadcasting television. If it isa major broadcasting corporation, the control center 12 can be placed inthe producers locations and the cinemas 16, 18, 20 each used fordifferent television channels.

Alternatively, a television set or camera could be given a uniquenetwork address in the system according to the present invention. Thisaccomplishes that every television-set can be individually addressed.

It will be understood that the aforedescribed embodiments of the presentinvention are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but aremerely intended as preferred modes of carrying out the invention. Theinvention includes other embodiments apparent to the person skilled inthis art from the scope of the following Claims.

1. A method of coordinating and controlling television sets or camerasin a digital information system for exposing information on at least onedisplay device through the medium of at least one television set orcamera, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:generating an exposure list comprising control instructions forcoordinating and controlling television sets or cameras with regard towhat shall be exposed, when it shall be exposed, where it shall beexposed and for how long it shall be exposed; using a control center forcoordinating and controlling television sets or cameras, wherein thecontrol center is able to create and update said exposure list in realtime with control instruction fields via dynamic booking of informationin time for exposure from mediators; and wherein the exposure listenables each television set or camera to be controlled, independently ofother television sets or cameras, to receive the same or differentinformation in accordance with the exposure list for exposure ofrespective television set or camera through the computerized devices. 2.A method according to claim 1, characterized in that informationmediators are connected to a computerized control center via interfacesfor data and telecommunication for round-the-clock transmission ofinformation, wherein the control center has communication interfacessituated at specific places remote from the control center having driveroutine means, which may be transparent for transmission of informationwith the drive routine means of the control center for transmission ofinformation in the system via interfaces.
 3. A method according to claim2, characterized in that a system administrator is able to update theexposure list with elective information at any time whatsoever, whereinthe dynamic booking can be changed or delayed.
 4. A method according toclaim 3, characterized in that a server comprises databases; and in thatinformation in the databases relating to exposures in the exposure listis copied in databases of servers.
 5. A method according to claim 4,characterized in that the exposure list includes reserved instructionfields for updating control instructions via mediator interfaces.
 6. Amethod according to claim 5, characterized in that the controlinstructions are placed in a queue or line when the exposure listtemporarily lacks instruction updating fields.
 7. A method according toclaim 6, characterized in that a switch senses when one of said serversis out of function, wherein the television sets or cameras controlled bysaid server are controlled by another server.
 8. A method accordingclaim 1, characterized in that every television set or camera isassigned a unique address.
 9. A method according to claim 8,characterized in that the addresses are of the type TCP/IP.
 10. A methodaccording to claim 8, characterized in that the addresses to televisionsets or cameras, respectively, are stored on a smart card which can beread by computerized means.
 11. An arrangement for coordinating andcontrolling television sets or cameras in a digital information systemfor displaying information on at least one display device through themedium of at least one television set or camera, said information beingsupplied by mediators of information, for exposure or display,characterized in that it comprises: computerized control center means,wherein the control center has communication interfaces against;computerized means for coordinating and controlling television sets orcameras; exposure handler means whereby the control center functions, inreal time and through the medium of said exposure handler, to create andupdate an exposure list having control instruction fields, via dynamicbooking of display information from mediators; and wherein said exposurelist, containing control instructions, coordinates and controls thetelevision sets or cameras in question with respect to what shall beexposed, where it shall be exposed, when it shall be exposed, and forhow long it shall be exposed, and enables each television set or camera,independently of other television sets or cameras, to receive the sameor different information according to the exposure list for exposure ordisplay by respective television set or camera through the computerizeddevices.
 12. An arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in thatsaid mediators are connected to the control center means via interfacesfor data and telecommunication for transmitting said information at anyelected time whatsoever.
 13. An arrangement according to claim 12,characterized in that said mediators posses drive routine means, saiddrive routine means possibly being transparent for transmission ofinformation with the drive routine means of the control center fortransmission of information in the system via interfaces for thatpurpose.
 14. An arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in thatthe system administrator is able to update the exposure list withelective information at any time whatsoever, wherein the dynamic bookingcan be changed or delayed.
 15. An arrangement according to claim 14,characterized in that a server situated at a specific place includesdatabases; and in that information in the databases relating toexposures in the exposure list is copied into databases of servers. 16.An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the exposurelist includes reserved instruction fields for updating with controlinstructions via the mediator interfaces.
 17. An arrangement accordingto claim 14, characterized in that the control instructions are placedin a queue or line when the exposure list momentarily lacks instructionfields for updating instructions.
 18. An arrangement according to claim17, characterized by a switch which detects when a camera computer isnon-functional, in which case those television sets or cameras that arecontrolled by the non-functional cinema computer are controlled by acinema computer situated at some other place.
 19. An arrangementaccording to claim 18, characterized in that every television set orcamera is assigned a unique address.
 20. An arrangement according toclaim 19, characterized in that the addresses are of the type TCP/IP.21. An arrangement according to claim 19, characterized in that theaddresses to television sets or cameras, respectively, are stored on asmart card which can be read by computerized means.
 22. A method ofcoordinating and controlling electronic displays in a digitalinformation system for exposing information on at least one displaydevice through the medium of at least one electronic display,characterized in that it comprises the following steps: generating anexposure list comprising control instructions for coordinating andcontrolling electronic displays with regard to what shall be exposed,when it shall be exposed, where it shall be exposed and for how long itshall be exposed; using a control center for coordinating andcontrolling electronic displays, wherein the control center is able tocreate and update said exposure list in real time with controlinstruction fields via dynamic booking of information in time forexposure from mediators; and wherein the exposure list enables eachelectronic display to be controlled, independently of other electronicdisplays, to receive the same or different information in accordancewith the exposure list for exposure of respective electronic display.23. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that informationmediators are connected to a computerized control center via interfacesfor data and telecommunication for round-the-clock transmission ofinformation, wherein the control center has communication interfaces,situated at specific places remote from the control center having driveroutine means, which may be transparent for transmission of informationwith the drive routine means of the control center for transmission ofinformation in the system via interfaces.
 24. A method according toclaim 23, characterized in that a system administrator is able to updatethe exposure list with elective information at any time whatsoever,wherein the dynamic booking can be changed or delayed.
 25. A methodaccording to claim 24, characterized in that a server comprisesdatabases; and in that information in the databases relating toexposures in the exposure list is copied in databases of servers.
 26. Amethod according to claim 25, characterized in that the exposure listincludes reserved instruction fields for updating control instructionsvia mediator interfaces.
 27. A method according to claim 26,characterized in that the control instructions are placed in a queue orline, when the exposure list temporarily lacks instruction updatingfields.
 28. A method according to claim 27, characterized in that aswitch senses when one of said servers is out of function, wherein theelectronic displays controlled by said server are controlled by anotherserver.
 29. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that everyelectronic display is assigned a unique address.
 30. A method accordingto claim 29, characterized in that the addresses are of the type TCP/IP.31. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that the addressesto electronic displays are stored on a smart card which can be read bycomputerized.
 32. An arrangement for coordinating and controllingelectronic displays in a digital information system for displayinginformation on at least one display device through the medium of atleast one electronic display, said information being supplied bymediators of information, for exposure or display, characterized in thatit comprises: computerized control center means, wherein the controlcenter has communication interfaces against; computerized means forcoordinating and controlling electronic displays; exposure handler meanswhereby the control center functions, in real time and through themedium of said exposure handler, to create and update an exposure listhaving control instruction fields, via dynamic booking of displayinformation from mediators; and wherein said exposure list, containingcontrol instructions, coordinates and controls the electronic displaysin question with respect to what shall be exposed, where it shall beexposed, when it shall be exposed, and for how long it shall be exposed,and enables each electronic display independently of other electronicdisplays, to receive the same or different information according to theexposure list for exposure or display by respective electronic display.33. An arrangement according to claim 32, characterized in that saidmediators are connected to the control center means via interfaces fordata and telecommunication for transmitting said information at anyelected time whatsoever.
 34. An arrangement according to claim 33,characterized in that said mediators posses drive routine means, saiddrive routine means possibly being transparent for transmission ofinformation with the drive routine means of the control center fortransmission of information in the system via interfaces for thatpurpose.
 35. An arrangement according to claim 34, characterized in thatthe system administrator is able to update the exposure list withelective information at any time whatsoever, wherein the dynamic bookingcan be changed or delayed.
 36. An arrangement according to claim 35,characterized in that a server situated at a specific place includesdatabases; and in that information in the databases relating toexposures in the exposure list is copied into databases of servers. 37.An arrangement according to claim 36, characterized in that the exposurelist includes reserved instruction fields for updating with controlinstructions via the mediator interfaces.
 38. An arrangement accordingto claim 35, characterized in that the control instructions are placedin a queue or line when the exposure list momentarily lacks instructionfields for updating instructions.
 39. An arrangement according to claim38, characterized by a switch which detects when an electronic displaycomputer is non-functional, in which case those electronic displays thatare controlled by the non-functional electronic display computer arecontrolled by an electronic display computer situated at some otherplace.
 40. An arrangement according to claim 39, characterized in thatelectronic display is assigned a unique address.
 41. An arrangementaccording to claim 40, characterized in that the addresses are of thetype TCP/IP.
 42. An arrangement according to claim 40, characterized inthat the addresses to electronic displays are stored on a smart cardwhich can be read by computerized means.